Although best known for his photography, Geraldo de Barros was an important contributor to the canon of mid-century modern furniture design and was one of Brazil’s most influential multidisciplinary artists. He was a cofounder of the furniture company Unilabor in 1954.
Born in 1923 in Chavantes, São Paulo, de Barros began his artistic career as a painter before discovering a passion for photography in the 1940s.
In the early 1950s, de Barros traveled throughout Europe, including Switzerland, where he met Bauhaus graduate Max Bill. At the time, Bill was collaborating with the Scholl Foundation on developing a design institute in Ulm, Germany, that combined Bauhaus tradition with emerging technical elements in design practice. Bill invited de Barros to visit the institute, where he became influenced by Bill’s philosophy of Gute Form — the belief that carefully designed objects could bring artistic values into homes.
Upon his return to São Paulo, de Barros delved into furniture design. Along with engineer Justino Cardoso, metalworker Antônio Thereza, and a Dominican priest, Friar João Batista Pereira dos Santos, he founded the furniture company and Christian cooperative Unilabor on the outskirts of São Paulo in the mid-1950s.
As the chief designer at Unilabor, de Barros incorporated the concept of Concrete art into many of his pieces, particularly his armchairs. His dining room chairs, bookcases, coffee tables and desks were also designed with straight lines, sobriety and functionality in mind and made with natural materials such as rosewood, jacaranda and iron, while the doors of Unilabor cabinets and tables saw an integration of Formica.
Hallmarks of Brazilian mid-century design include the use of these native materials as well as smooth, sculptural forms, and the popularity of the region’s modernist furniture of the 1940s and ’50s has made household names of de Barros and designers such as Oscar Niemeyer, Sergio Rodrigues and José Zanine Caldas.
Given that it was more of a cooperative with a social mission than it was a manufacturer, Unilabor paid well and offered innovative modular furniture by way of de Barros-designed components that were produced serially to be used in the construction of complete furnishings.
Despite Unilabor’s success, the company ran into economic difficulties and eventually closed. Undaunted, de Barros founded another furniture company in 1964 — Hobjeto Indústria e Comércio de Móveis — where he focused on progressive furniture design with more geometric shapes.
During the 1960s, de Barros continued with furniture design and, as a painter, became interested in Pop art and abstract movements, founding influential groups such as Grupo 15, Galeria Rex and Grupo Ruptura.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage Unilabor furniture.
$33,186 / item
Geraldo de Barros MF-710 bookcases Unilabor Brazil 1955
By Unilabor, Geraldo de Barros
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
This rare pair of MF-710 bookcases, designed by Geraldo de Barros (1923-1998) and manufactured by Unilabor, Brazil, in 1955, is an outstanding example of mid-century Brazilian modern...
Metal
Rosewood Credenza by Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor, Brazilian Midcentury, 1960s
By Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor
Located in New York, NY
Previously Restored
Rosewood
Unilabor Rosewood Credenza by Geraldo de Barros, Brazilian Midcentury, c. 1954
By Unilabor, Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
This credenza was designed in the 1950s by Geraldo de Barros (1923-1998) and produced by Unilabor. De Barros designed and projected furniture based on his constructive references rel...
Brass
Geraldo de Barros writing desk Unilabor Brazil 1956
By Geraldo de Barros, Unilabor
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice minimalistic small writing desk designed by Geraldo de Barros and manufactured by Unilabor, Brazil 1956. The desk is made up of three main parts. The black iron frame, rosewood finished top and the drawer cabinet. The drawer fronts have the characteristic white laminated finish with metal handles. Unilabor could use these same parts to create different furniture designs, following the company's standards. This approach was part of a methodical way of making things, and the design style was common to other factories of that time. The most unique idea was how they thought about the production process in an organised way. In very good condition with beautiful grain to the rosewood. The chair on the pictures is not included. Literature; Brazilian Modern Design Alberto Vicente Marcelo Vasconcellos 2017, page 264-281 The most profound conceptual experience in the production of modern furniture in Brazil was led by Geraldo de Barros, a major artist of the Concrete Art movement in the country. Interested in new technologies and processes, Geraldo's career was consistently permeated with artistic experiments, particularly in photography and painting. His affiliation with design was influenced by the "gute form" principle advocated by Max Bill. Bill was the founder of the Ulm School...
Metal
Danish Mid-Century Modern Rosewood Sideboard, 1960s
By Sibast, Arne Vodder
Located in Asaa, DK
Danish Mid-Century Modern Low Rosewood sideboard, 1960s Beautiful Danish Modern low sideboard in minimalistic style attributed to Danish designer Arne Vodder for Sibast. Front with...
Rosewood
$14,295Sale Price|37% Off
H 42.92 in W 127.96 in D 23.23 in
Midcentury Italian Credenza with Solid Marble Top and Base
By Cantu
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
Prepare to be captivated by the allure of this extraordinary piece, lovingly crafted in Cantu, Italy. Behold the breathtaking beauty of this lacquered parchment sideboard, meticulous...
Marble
Rosewood Tambour Door Credenza by Dyrlund
By Dyrlund
Located in Denton, TX
Rare Danish modern rosewood tambour door credenza with center dovetailed drawer section and adjustable shelf on each side.
Mahogany, Oak, Rosewood
$5,440Sale Price|20% Off
H 55 in W 65 in D 19 in
Mid Century Credenza Jacaranda and Brass by Hauner and Eisler Brazil Ca. 1950’s
By Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
Spectacular Mid Century credenza, made in Brazil - designed by Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler. This example is in very good, original condition, clean and ready to use. The case ha...
Brass
$22,000
H 27.5 in W 75.25 in D 16 in
Jorge Zalszupin Rosewood Mid-Century Credenza for L'Atelier, Brazil, 1960s
By Jorge Zalszupin, L'Atelier San Paulo
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This iconic stunning rosewood credenza from the Componivel series was designed by Jorge Zalszupin (1922-2020) and manufactured by his own company, L'Atelier, in the 1960s. It's inst...
Rosewood
$43,114
H 82.68 in W 79.93 in D 15.75 in
Sergio Rodrigues Bookcase Model Adolpho, Brazilian Mid-Century, 1960
By Sergio Rodrigues
Located in L’ISLE-SUR-LA-SORGUE, FR
Excellent condition. Designed by Sergio Rodrigues and manufactured by OCA in Brazil in the 1960s, the "Adolpho" bookcase perfectly embodies the aesthetic of mid-century modern desig...
Jacaranda
Teak Credenza by Nils Jonsson for Troeds Bjärnum, Sweden, 1960s
By Nils Jonsson, Troeds Bjarnum 1
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Produced by Troeds Bjärnum of Sweden during the firm's most celebrated decade, this teak credenza exemplifies the restrained precision that defined Swedish modernism at its peak. The...
Teak
Bookcase model "MF-710" by Geraldo de Barros
By Geraldo de Barros
Located in Barcelona, ES
Bookcase model “MF-710” Manufactured by Unilabor Brasil, 1954 Jacaranda, formica, painted metal and brass Measurements 103 cm x 43,1 cm x 200h cm 44,5 in x 17 in x 78,7h in Literatur...
Metal, Brass
$55,000 / set
H 90 in W 150 in D 16 in
Mogens Koch Modular Bookcase Wall System for Rud. Rasmussen Denmark 1955c.
By Rud Rasmussen, Mogens Koch
Located in Chicago, IL
Mogens Koch Modular Bookcase Wall System for Rud. Rasmussen Denmark 1955c. Denmark, circa 1955–60 Pine with brass hardware Set of fifteen modules: ten bookcase sections and five cabi...
Brass
$2,938
H 30.32 in W 54.34 in D 16.93 in L 30.32 in
Danish Rosewood Sideboard made by Hundevad & Co with sliding doors , 1960s
By Hundevad & Co., Carlo Jensen
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Danish Design sideboard Designed by Carlo Jensen and made by Hundevad & Co. Finished in a beautiful palissander veneer this cabinet comes with great construction finesse and qual...
Rosewood
Milo Baughman MCM Rosewood Writing Desk
By Milo Baughman
Located in Toledo, OH
Mid-century modern rosewood desk by Milo Baughman with three drawers, flat tubular legs and a support bar. 29" high x 52 1/2" wide x 26" deep. Excellent condition. Will not ship inte...
Rosewood
$2,509Sale Price|28% Off
H 29.53 in W 79.53 in D 18.12 in
Vintage Retro Teak large Sideboard Credenza by Tom Robertson for McIntosh, 1960s
By A.H. MacIntosh & Company, Tom Robertson
Located in Markington, GB
Vintage 1960s McIntosh sideboard by Tom Robertson. It has three drawers, cupboard space, and a drinks section with a useful pullout shelf. Credenza is in very good original condition...
Teak
Italian Walnut Writing Desk, circa 1950
Located in New York, NY
An Italian 1950's charming and elegant walnut writing desk, Tuscany, Italy, circa 1950. This piece is a fine example of Italian mid-century craftsmanship, blending organic shapes wi...
Brass
Jorge Zalszupin, Desk, Brazil 1976.
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in L’ISLE-SUR-LA-SORGUE, FR
Jorge Zalszupin Desk by Atelier Moveis. São Paulo, Brazil Rare because it's the large model. Labeled and dated December 1976. Perfect condition, restoration done by a cabinetmaker. ...
Rosewood
Danish Modern Rosewood 4-Drawer 2-Door Sideboard Credenza
Located in Kensington, MD
Refined lines and proportions are the defining feature of this incredible credenza in rosewood. Four graduated drawers on the left. Two doors opening to cabinet storage on the right....
Rosewood